A lush county of rolling hills and deep green fields, Worcestershire, perched on either side of the M5 motorway has much to recommend a visit.
Arrive in springtime and you’ll find apple and pear orchards spilling delicately-scented pink and white blossom over paths and country roads, freshly picked asparagus (imported by the Romans) from the Vale of Evesham served dripping with warm hollandaise sauce in gastropubs and splendid walks on offer in the remains of ancient woodlands scattered across the countryside.
The city of Worcester has plenty of fascinating history to explore, including the cathedral – though it’s best to plan out a trip in advance so you’re not hijacked by the less attractive bits of the modern city centre. And then there’s the beautiful Malvern Hills in the south of the county, offering great hiking, riding and cycling, and the Elgar Route, a circular drive taking in more than 40 places associated with the composer's life and music, including his Birthplace at Lower Broadheath. Admire the extravagant villas of Great Malvern, tumbling down the eastern skirts of the hills; the lovely stained-glass window dedicated to the composer in Worcester cathedral; and the extraordinary views from those nine long-backed, round-topped Malvern Hills that rise without prelude, like a child's painting, from the Severn plain below.
Something that’s lacking in Worcestershire is, we are sorry to report, is good hotels and we find it hard to recommend more than a handful. In fact, as you will see, the bulk of our recommendations are guesthouses, all of which, in our opinion, will make preferable places to stay than the county’s dubious selection of hotels. The order by which the hotels are listed bears no reflection on our preference.
Written by Louise Tickle
